Deaths: 2,083,594

Storm Christoph: Evacuations amid floods and snow

People have been evacuated from their homes overnight amid widespread flooding across England and Wales caused by Storm Christoph.

About 2,000 homes in the Didsbury and Northenden areas of Manchester, and in Ruthin and Bangor-on-Dee, North Wales, and Maghull, Merseyside, are affected. – BBC News

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Liz Truss admits Brexit contributed to food shortages, contradicting Cabinet colleague

The international trade secretary, Liz Truss, has admitted Brexit has contributed to shortages on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland, contradicting her Cabinet colleague Brandon Lewis. – The Independent 

European leaders congratulate US President Joe Biden after inauguration ceremony

European leaders have expressed hope that “conviction and common sense” will restore their relationship with the United States under new President Joe Biden.

European Council President Charles Michel tweeted a congratulatory video soon after Biden had been inaugurated as the 46th US President.

“I wish President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris my very best, as they strive to heal their country and lead the American people out of the pandemic,” said Michel.

“It’s time to bring back conviction and common sense and rejuvenate our EU-US relationship.” – Euronews

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EU migration chief urges Frontex to clarify pushback allegations

Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, has called on Frontex, the EU’s border agency, to clarify accusations of involvement in migrant pushbacks.

Frontex is currently under investigation by the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog (OLAF) over allegations of harassment, misconduct and unlawful operations aimed at stopping migrants from reaching EU shores. – Euronews

Poet Amanda Gorman, age 22, hails democracy at Biden inaugural

Gorman is the youngest poet to recite at an inauguration, a role first given to Robert Frost by John F. Kennedy in 1961, after First Lady Jill Biden saw one of Gorman’s readings and invited her to participate at the Capitol steps.

Gorman said that she had been writing a few lines a day but stayed awake at night out of a compulsion to complete her inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb,” following the January 6 ransacking of the Capitol by supporters of then president Donald Trump who hoped to undo Biden’s victory. – TRT World

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Trump Voters Weigh in as Biden Begins Presidency

Far from Washington, where Democrat Joe Biden launched his presidency Wednesday, a trickle of Louisianans who remain loyal to former President Donald Trump peacefully spoke their minds outside the state Capitol building in Baton Rouge.

James Kent arrived sporting a red “Trump 2020: Keep America Great” T-shirt, a camouflage-printed Trump hat with the slogan “No More Bull S–t” written across it, and a holstered gun resting against his hip. For Kent, Trump remains a man to be followed and revered. – VOA

COVID-19 precaution: Dubai suspends live entertainment in hotels and restaurants

Dubai has suspended entertainment activities in restaurants and hotels as a precaution against the continued rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

In circular to owners and managers of hotels and restaurants in the emirate, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said that field inspections have discovered “an increase in violations during entertainment activities in hotels and restaurants.”

“The Department directs all concerned in hotel establishments and restaurants to temporarily hold entertainment activities as of Thursday, January 21, 2021 until further notice,” the government agency said. – Arab News

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Greek MPs approve extension of territorial waters in Ionian Sea

The Greek Parliament has overwhelmingly approved legislation to extend the country’s territorial waters along its western coastline from six to 12 nautical miles, a few days before long-estranged NATO allies Greece and Turkey resume exploratory talks over contested maritime claims in the Aegean Sea.

In Wednesday’s 284-0 vote, representatives of four opposition parties backed the centre-right government, while members of the Greek Communist Party abstained. – Aljazeera

Thai scientists race to develop homemade COVID-19 vaccine amid second wave of infections

CNA says as the Thai government races to secure more COVID-19 vaccines from various sources, a group of medical scientists is preparing for the first clinical trial of a home-grown cure they are developing to fight the pandemic.

In April, they expect to inject 72 volunteers aged between 18 and 75 with ChulaCov19 – a vaccine that is being developed by the Medicine Faculty of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok to fight the infectious disease. – CNA

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Japan court upholds ban on dual citizenship

A Japanese court upheld a ban on dual citizenship on Thursday (Jan 21), rejecting a suit that challenged the measure’s constitutionality and sought damages for those affected.

Japan is one of around 50 countries internationally, includingSingapore, China and South Korea, that permits its citizens to hold only one nationality. – CNA

China’s iSpace advances with IPO plans, reusable launcher landing leg tests

Chinese private rocket firm iSpace is planning an IPO while also making progress on technology for a reusable launch vehicle.

Beijing-based iSpace is planning to file an initial public offering on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (STAR Market), a market established in 2019 to support tech companies.

STAR Market announced the move Jan.12 (Chinese) naming CITIC Securities and Tianfeng Securities as advisory firms. – SpaceNews